True confession time. Ski widow and I are big fans of the TV reality show Survivor. Since it began 9 years ago, we have only missed one evening's episode, due to a VCR malfunction - make that operator error.

So I was captivated when Fran Mullin, executive director of WinterKids, posted this photo with Maine resident and most recent Survivor winner Bob Crowley on her Facebook page.

WinterKids is a nonprofit Maine based organization committed to helping children develop healthy lifelong habits through fun, outdoor winter activity.

A few years ago, I attended a presentation by Fran's predecessor Carla Marcus, who used a slide show featuring an obesity map of the United States from each decade since the 50s. The fatter we got, the more splotches of pink and red covered the map. In the 50s, the map was pretty much splotch free. As the years passed we as a nation got redder and redder. It was shocking to see a map representing this decade covered in red.

Maine is a pretty cold state and Carla went on to explain how WinterKids programs take children out of hibernation and get them active at a time of year when the weather would otherwise encourage sedentary activity and comfort food. If there were more programs like WinterKids, there would be less need for angry national health care debate.

Back to Bob Crowley who at 57, became the oldest winner in the history of Survivor. Last week the now 58-year-old joined Maine's governor and a group of dignitaries to announce a new Honor Student Season Pass Program at Saddleback Maine. The recreational incentive awards honor roll students in grades kindergarten through 12 with $49 season passes. At the event Gov. John Baldacci said that in the national debate on healthcare, "we need to take more responsibility for ourselves to stay healthy."

Bob, the winner of Survivor Gabon, is the spokesman for the Saddleback program. His wife Peggy took the photo of him with Fran.

About their meeting, Fran said "Bob told me a funny story of a time he built a fire while winter camping alone in the wilderness. A lost snowmobiler was attracted to the light and asked Bob where the lean-to was. Bob said, 'I burned it.' It took the guy a minute of shock to realize that Bob was kidding... and then he recognized him from the Survivor show. Bob is a character and a real fan of WinterKids".

Nancy Marshall, head of Maine based Nancy Marshall Communications and The Maine PR Maven blogger had a hand in putting together the event. She told me that Bob still skis on long skinny skis, but he did buy his daughter a pair those new fangled shaped skis. As a million dollar winner and the winner of the $100,000 Sprint Player of the season contest, Bob might want to consider springing for a new set of skis for himself.

Bob published his autobiography, Making Waves: The Stories of Maine's Bob Crowley this year but don't expect any inside Survivor dirt. Because of an agreement he signed with the Survivor show producer, the retired high school physics teacher was not allowed to mention a word about the show. That contract keeps him silent on Survivor chatter for three years.

I have two trips to Maine planned this upcoming season - the first in December and the other in March. Maybe I'll a get a chance to make a few turns with Bob. If I do, it won't be my first brush with Survivor greatness.

I had several chances to meet and photograph Survivor contestants for the Times of Trenton when they came to Central Jersey . . .

Martin Griff / The TimesTelevision show Survivor Africa Champion Ethan Zohn came to Isles headquarters in Trenton on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 for a kick off event to promote the 2002 Isles Mercer County Soccer Cup tournament to be held Sunday Sept. 1, 2002 at Mercer County Park in West Windsor.

Martin Griff / The TimesThe Trenton Thunder baseball team hosted reality TV stars Heidi Strobel from Survivor - the Amazon and Ereka Vetrini from The Apprentice. They appeared between games of a double header at Waterfront Park in Trenton on Wednesday, May 12, 2004. The women are with Chase the Golden Thunder.

Martin Griff / The TimesRob Mariano and Amber Brkich Mariano, the husband and wife duo who have starred on CBS reality shows Survivor and The Amazing Race, play musical chairs as special guests at the Double AA Trenton Thunder's Reality TV Night on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at Waterfront Park in Trenton.

At a non-Times of Trenton related event, my wife Jill and I met Survivor fan favorite, Toms River native and Monmouth University graduate Stephanie LaGrossa. I took a photograph of Jill and Stephanie, but I'll have to find an excuse to post that at a later date. The file lives on a hard drive that crashed and needs to be sent off to a very expensive repair company.